Texas Teen Empowers Global Youth Through STEM Education

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Yuvi Parmar. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

At just 16 years old, Yuvi Parmar isn’t waiting for the future – he’s shaping it. The Katy, Texas high school junior is the founder of Empower and Connect, a youth-led nonprofit that’s providing STEM education and public health solutions to historically underserved communities both locally and around the world.

Since launching Empower and Connect in January 2024, Yuvi and his team have hosted coding workshops for local students, launched 3D modeling classes for youth in Kenya and installed a small, free library in a park to promote literacy and community connection. With a team of passionate teen volunteers, Yuvi is leading a movement that transforms bold ideas into tangible change.

What inspired you to found Empower and Connect?

I actually started the nonprofit out of frustration. I kept seeing clubs at school that looked great on paper but didn’t create lasting impact. A lot of them were just repeating the same projects or awareness posts without answering the question: “What’s next?” I wanted to build something strategic and technical that could grow and last. So I combined my interests in medicine, engineering, and global equity and launched Empower and Connect to create something youth could lead, that would actually make a difference locally and globally.

How did you get it off the ground?

The first step was building the right team. I didn’t want volunteers who just needed hours. I wanted people who were truly passionate about the mission. Once we had our core team, we filed the paperwork to become a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Texas. Our first two projects were local: teaching Scratch coding workshops and installing a free library in an underserved park. After that, we expanded internationally by partnering with nonprofits in Kenya and India.

Why did you choose to focus on STEM?

STEM gives people opportunities. I’ve shadowed doctors and volunteered in different settings, and I realized that technical education can truly change someone’s future. We focus not just on helping underserved communities, but also on empowering our volunteers. They gain professional skills, like coding, engineering, public speaking, that can shape their careers. For example, our Inventor workshops not only teach Kenyan youth 3D modeling, but they also challenge our volunteers to learn and teach real-world applications of engineering.

What have been some of your favorite projects?

Two of my favorites are our Inventor workshops and our water filter project. For the Inventor project, we started by training our own volunteers in Autodesk Inventor, a 3D design software. A group of volunteers who were already proficient created a full curriculum and taught the rest of the team over eight weeks. Once everyone was ready, we partnered with a nonprofit in Kitale, Kenya—the Christian Community Healthcare Foundation, which has a small building with computers. That allowed us to hold weekly virtual sessions teaching Kenyan youth 3D modeling skills. Most of the students are between 17 and 25 years old, so they’re at a point where they’re about to enter the workforce. Our goal is to give them a strong foundation in engineering and design that they can build on. Some had never used a computer before, and within a week, they were already creating 3D objects and asking advanced questions.

The water filter project, led by our Team B, is focused on designing and testing an affordable filtration system for underserved communities in Kenya and India, specifically Kitale, and the slum regions of Dharavi and Parel in Mumbai. We’re currently testing prototypes in partnership with labs in Houston. Once finalized, the filters will be distributed through our nonprofit partners, and we’re also compiling a report on waterborne diseases in these areas. Since I want to become a Navy surgeon, the public health side of this project really speaks to me. It combines engineering with medical impact, which is something I’m passionate about.

What’s been the most rewarding moment so far?

During one of our first Inventor sessions in Kenya, a student came up to me and said, “I didn’t even know how to use a computer. Now I can create things I didn’t think were possible.” That moment reminded me why this matters. It’s not about resumes or appearances. It’s about opening doors for someone who might never have had the chance otherwise.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

We want to travel to the communities we’re working with, to see the impact firsthand and build deeper partnerships. Long term, I’d love to see regional chapters led by students as they go off to college. The idea is to create a blueprint for how youth-led nonprofits can drive scalable, meaningful change, without losing sight of what really matters: passion, cultural empathy, and commitment.

What have you personally learned from founding this nonprofit?

It takes time, discipline, and discomfort. Junior year of high school is tough, but I’ve had to balance it with medical research, shadowing, and leading this nonprofit. I’ve learned patience, time management, and humility. And I’ve learned that being young isn’t a limitation. It’s actually an advantage. We’re not tied to “how it’s always been done.” We can build new paths.

What advice would you give to young people who want to make a difference but don’t know where to start?

You don’t need to be the smartest or most connected person to start something. Just care enough to begin and stay committed. Don’t be afraid to question the norm. If you see a gap in healthcare, education, or technology—fill it. Not for now, but for what it could become. You can create impact that lasts far beyond yourself.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Yuvi? Find local volunteer opportunities.